Bottle closure-opener



July 17, 1956 H. D. SCRYMGEOUR 2,754,962

BOTTLE CLOSURE-OPENER Filed Feb. 17, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l Harper 0. Scrymgeour, INVENTOR.

BY WW 3m July 17, 1956 H. D. SCRYMGEOUR 2,754,962

BOTTLE CLOSURE-OPENER Filed Feb. 17, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Harper 0. Scrymgeour, INVENTOR.

MIA/WW 19m United States Patent BOTTLE CLG'SURE-OPENER Harper D. Scrymgeour, Fort Worth, Tex.

Application February 17, 1953, Serial N 0. 337,335

3 Claims. (Cl. 206-65) The present invention relates to closures for bottles and the like and more particularly relates to a combination bottle cap and opening device that may be advantageously used in place of the conventional type of metallic cap known as the crown cap.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a combination bottle cap and opening device that will permit the bottling of liquids (such as soft drinks, beer and the like) in single bottles or in multiples which in itself forms the opener for removing the caps from the bottles.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a combination bottle cap and opening device of the above described character that may be effectively utilized with conventional bottle capping machinery requiring little or no alteration of such machinery.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a combination bottle cap and opening device that may in itself serve as a carrier for bottles capped thereby and which will in no manner interfere with the conventional practice of providing separate carriers for the bottles such as the cardboard containers now presently used.

Still another object or" the invention is to provide a combination bottle cap and opener wherein the bottle caps are formed integrally with a flat plate having depending side flanges, which side flanges serve to rigidify the body of the device against the crimping action of the bottling machines and which side flanges further rigidity the device to prevent bending of the plate when the same is used as a lever to pry the bottle caps from the lips of the bottles.

These, together with various ancillary objects and features which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this invention, a preferred embodiment of which is shown by way of example only in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of one form of device embodying the present invention in capping position on a pair of bottles;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along section line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top elevational view of the devi e of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of a device embodying the present invention showing the same adapted to be used as a bottle carrier;

Figure 5 is a top view of the device shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an end view of the device shown in Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a view of another form of device embodying the present invention to be used with a single bottle;

Figure 8 is a top view of the device shown in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along section line 99 of Figure 8;

Figure 19 is a top view of still another form of device embodying the present invention and showing how the same may be used without interference in the conventional cardboard carrying cartons; and

Figure 11 is a top view of a plurality of bottles in a cardboard carton or the like utilizing the device illustrated in Figure 1.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, it is to be noted that like reference characters are utilized to designate similar parts throughout the various views.

Attention is first directed to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 11 wherein the combination bottle cap and opening device or opener is designated in its entirety by the numeral 10. As shown in this embodiment, the device 10 comprises generally a rectangular, elongated, rigid, flat plate having a substantially fiat top 12 with depending side flanges extending the length thereof. Formed integrally with the top 12 of the plate at longitudinally spaced intervals are a pair of bottle caps 16 and 18 opening onto the undersurface of the top 12. The spacing between these caps 16 and 18 is approximately the width whereby a bottle may be suspended from each cap. As will be noted, the caps 16 and 18 project upwardly from the top surface of the plate and are substantially in the form of upstanding bosses having hollow interiors and annular side walls 20 and 22 joining the top of the plate. Initially, the line of juncture between the annular side walls 20 and 22 and the top 12 of the plate is a smooth, arcuate, concave curve giving a bell shaped effect to the cap opening.

When the plate caps 16 and 18 are in the above described condition, they are placed over the lips of the bottles 24 and thence the caps are crimped at their openings so that the formerly bell-shape opening becomes a restricted opening somewhat smaller then the interior area of the base of the cap to clampingly seal the lip of a bottle therein. Prior to this operation, of course, the conventional cork inserts 26 or the like are applied to the undersurface of each cap.

As shown clearly in Figure l, the pair of caps 16 and 18 permit the arrangement of a pair of bottles 24 in side by side relation to one another whereby they may be stored vertically or horizontally as desired and further may be carried in the conventional cartons without interference as shown in Figure 11 wherein the carton is designated by the numeral 28. In this figure, Figure 11, six bottles are shown arranged in the carton with each pair of bottles being attached to one another by the combination cap and opening device 10.

To remove the caps from the bottles no opener whatsoever other than the plate 12 is necessitated. To remove the bottle from the cap 18, in other words the first bottle, this bottle is simply pulled away from and tilted with respect to the bottle secured to the cap 16 whereby the second bottle and the plate 12 form respectively a standard and lever. Thus, by either holding the second bottle or the top of the plate 12 or both, the first bottle may be conveniently and simply disengaged from the cap 18. Then, to remove the second bottle, the now free end portion of the plate 12 is utilized as a lever which is tilted about the lip of the second bottle as a fulcrum to remove the cap 16 from the second bottle. The depending side flanges 14 in both of these operations serve to rigidify the plate '12 to the extent that no bending of this plate will occur as the bottle caps are removed. Also in this connection, the side flanges 14 serve most efifectively to prevent buckling of the plate as the joining edges of the side walls 20 and 22 and the top of plate 12 are crimped by the bottle capping machine.

Referring now to Figures 4-6, a carton carrying form of the combination bottle cap and opening device as illustrated in its entirety by the numeral 39. This embodiment of the invention comprises generally a rigid, rectangular, flat plate 32 having an elongated central opening 34 thereon. Transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rows of bottle caps are formed integrally on this plate on opposite sides of the central opening 34 and are designated by the numerals 36 and 38 respectively. As

will be noted, each of the rows 36 and 38 comprises three longitudinally spaced caps 40 respectively. These caps are formed identically with the construction of the caps already described with reference to Figure 1. Accordingly, further detailed description of the construction of the integral caps 40 is believed to be unnecessary. The arrangement of two rows of three caps in each row is so that the plate may cap 6 bottles, the number conventionally distributed in cartons at the present time. However, it is to be noted that the plate could be expanded to cap any desired number of bottles without departing from the spirit of the invention.

To form the central opening 34, the first portion of the plate 22 is struck downwardly as at 42 to form an opening defining side flange 42. The portion of the plate opposite the flange 42 is struck upwardly to form a substantially vertically extending flange 44 which is then modified to provide a carrying handle by means of which the bottle secured to the caps 40 may be carried by the device with the device itself as the carrying carton.

To carry out this modification, the upstanding flange 44 has the central portion thereof struck inwardly and thence bent upwardly as at 46 to provide an arcuate juncture 48 between the struck out portion 46 and the flange 44. The flange opening 50 provided by the cut-out central portion 46 of the flange 44 provides a hand inserting opening and the struck out portion 46 provides carrying handle on the device 30. The arcuate juncture 48 between the struck out portion 46 and the balance of the flange 44 of course provides a convenient rounded surface upon which the hand of an individual carrying the bottles may grasp the device 30 and the bottles carried thereby. In this construction, also, the side edges of the plate 32 terminate in depending sicle flanges 52 to increase the rigidity of the plate.

It is to be further noted that both in the modification of Figures 4 to 6 and that of Figures 1-3, the ends of the flanges 14 and 52 respectively may be rounded if desired to prevent catching of articles of clothing thereon and the like.

In Figures 7-9 a single bottle modification of the combination cap and holding device is designated in its entirety by the numeral 54. As shown in this embodiment, the device 54 comprises a substantially flat plate 56 having depending side flanges 58 thereon. Formed integrally on the top surface of the plate 56 and projecting upwardly therefrom is a bottle cap 60 which is a substantial duplicate of the previously described caps 16 and 18. This cap likewise, as do the previously described caps, fits over the lip of a bottle neck and is crimped thereto to sealingly clamp the cap to the bottle. The forward end of the plate 56 is formed with a forwardly projected lip 62 which is joined integrally with both the top surface 56 and the side flanges 58. This lip 62 serves as the lever for tilting the bottle cap and opening device 54 from the top of a 4 bottle and removing it therefrom. By virtue of its juncture with both the side flanges 58 and the top surface 56 of the device 54, the lip 62 forms an extremely rigid lever which is not subject to bending as the plate 56 is tilted from the top of the bottle.

Figure 10 shows yet another modification of the invention wherein elongated, rectangular, rigid strips or plates 64 are provided having caps 66 formed integrally on the top surfaces thereof. These caps are arranged in longitudinally spaced relation to one another with three caps in longitudinal alignment being provided in each plate 64. The caps 66 are, of course, identically formed on the plates with the previously described caps 16 and 18. Also, the plates 64 are provided with depending side flanges (not shown) to add rigidity to the plates. In this modification, three bottles may be carried by each plate, each set of three bottles forming one half of the normal complement of six bottles to be carried in a conventional cardboard carton 28. To remove the caps from the bottles in this modification, the first two bottles are simply pulled or tilted away from the third bottle whereby they are disengaged from their caps 66. Then, the free portion of the strip or plate 64 forms a lever for tilting the third cap from the third bottle.

From the foregoing description, the construction and operation of the device are believed to be readily apparent and further description is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art after a careful consideration of the foregoing specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described. But, all suitable modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A combination bottle cap, bottle carrier and opening device comprising an elongated rectangular flat plate having depending side flanges, longitudinal rows of upstanding hollow bottle caps projecting integrally from the upper surface of the plate and opening into the undersurface of the plate, said bottle caps being adapted for crimping over the tops of bottles, said rows being formed adjacent the opposite side edges of said plate, downturned side flanges on said plate, said plate having opposing upwardly and downwardly extending struck out tabs providing an elongated opening in the central portion thereof between said bosses, said tabs being parallel to said flanges, means on the upwardly extending tab for utilizing the same as a handle for carrying the device, said tabs and flanges preventing distortion of the plate as the caps are crimped onto bottles.

2. A combination bottle cap and opening device comprising an elongated, rectangular, flat plate, transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rows of bottle caps formed integrally in said plate and projecting thereabove for crimping over bottle tops, depending flanges on the side edges of said plate, a flange struck out from the central portion of said plate between said longitudinally extending rows of bottle caps and forming an elongated central opening in said plate, said struck out flange projecting upwardly above said plate and having a lip struck out from an intermediate portion thereof whereby said struck out flange forms a carrying handle.

3. A combination container cap and opening device comprising a rigid, flat plate having downwardly depending side flanges, a plurality of crown caps formed integrally on said plate, containers having reduced beaded necks, said caps being spaced from one another a distance slightly greater than the width of a container and projecting above the upper surface of the plate and opening through the undersurface thereof, said caps crimpingly receiving the necks of said containers, tilting of said containers disengaging the same from the caps, said plate constituting a lever for removing the cap from the last container, said flanges preventing distortion of the plate as the caps are crimped to the containers and buckling of the plate as containers are released therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,063,384 Prell June 3, l9 l3 2,041,391 Bauch May l9, 1936 2,080,947 Ligeour May 18, 1937 2,520,203 Haywa Aug. 29, 1950 2,557,801 Shapiro June 19, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 185,544 Switzerland Feb. 1, l937 

